Late to class policy
Hello,
I am reading that others are posting questions about some of the policies that they set at the beginning of class. One policy that I have is that I have a quiz at the beginning of every class. Students are not allowed to make these up no matter what the circumstances. I do allow them to make up tests because I do understand life circumstances. However, the quizzes are simply for the purpose of giving the student an incentive to arrive to class and be on time! They are only 10-point quizzes, but I get more grief from students and individuals from the admissions and financial aid when students come to complain to them about my policy. Do any of you experience this kind of thing?
Hi Maria,
These are standards that need to be enforced in the class because they are requirements for career success. Our students need to realize that the soft skills are just as important as the specific skills in career success.
Gary
In my institution's policy is that students may miss only twice. However, the rule for my students in my class is to assess "the responsibilities", and being on time is one of them.
I agree. Any way the classroom experience can be used to teach should be used and this is especially true in teaching students to be to class on time. A student could fully comprehend all the subject material but if he or she does not learn that showing up on time is important they are not getting a complete education. If and when job loss results due to being late, all the knowledge in the world will not help you in that job. Many times the small things such as showing up to work on time makes all the difference in getting a promotion, gaining respect, etc. There are some students who need to see the importance of being ontime. Often times this "knowledge" is something we often take for granted. Anything that reinforces timeliness in the classroom is better serving the students.
I agree. Secondary career colleges usually attract people who are getting a late start on life for whatever reason, and the concept of punctuality and tardiness as wasting someone else's time hasn't been enforced with much regard.
I like the idea of quizzes at the beginning of class. Not only does it promote punctuality, but it reinforces important subject matter from the day before.
Ultimately, we are preparing these students to be "professionals", and part of being professional is knowing your field of study and being presentable and punctual.
M.Guzman
Hi Jacqueline,
We do need to work hard on impressing in the minds of our students that they are preparing for their careers. In order to be successful they are going to have to meet the standards of their field and being tardy or absent is not one of those standards.
Gary
Hi,
I really think that students should have a chance but really in the real world employers wont like the fact their employees come late to the office so I think we should tell them from day one that on time is expected no excuses unles its an emergency.
Hi James,
It is mine as well. I make sure that my students understand the need to be on time and in class each time it meets. This is what professional development is about for students.
Gary
Being late is one of my pet peeves. If a student is late and I am lecturing, the student has to wait til break to come into my classroom. This way it does interfere with my other students and my train of thought. The student that is late then has to worry about getting the information from someone in the class on their time not mine. Plus 10% of their final grade is on work ethics and they lose 5 points every time they are late.
Hi Sarah,
The key point in any type of instructional setting is you must work with the student population you have in a way that is supportive to their career goals and learning. Attendance polices need to be developed based upon the instructor's ability to "read" the needs of students.
Gary
Your policy sounds good one some levels, but I have many students cant aford a car. They take the bus to school, often coming stright from work and the busses are anything but reliable.
Another student walks every day. I don't want her running across a highway because she is scared of being late.
So long as they call to tell me ahead of time and are not more then a few minutes late (1-1o mins) I try to cut them a break. 10 points may not seem like much, but 10+10+10 and so on adds up in a hurry.
Hi Faith,
Students have to be held accountable for their attendance or lateness. You plan is clear and easy for them to follow. "Be in class each time it meets and on time." This policy will be important to students later on when they are out in the work world and they have learned to be accountable as workers.
Gary
I have also done a quiz at the beginning of each class. But, I also include in my addendum that the students will lose 5 points, for each time that they have either been late or missed class, from their total points at the end of the course. It has seemed to motivate quite a few students to not be late or skip class.
When my students are tardy, I document how many minutes they arrive late, and they are required to stay after class to make every minute missed. They still lose the points, but i have very few tardy students because of it.
I like the idea of offering a quiz at the end of class to reinforce the importance of remaining in class, an often overlooked problem of attendance. With this policy, students benefit on two fronts: they comply with the attendance policy to its fullest extent and they are more motivated to pay attention to perform well on the quiz. (This cuts down on the grumbling of ill prepared students as well.) If this is coupled with collecting assignments at the beginning of class, it seems as though I should have more perfect attendance days.
In my classroom, I find that a no late work (without documentation) policy helps to discourage students from missing class. If they arrive late and without proper documentation, I will not accept their work. I have had great success with this method. If I implement Marcia's policy, I hope that this will only improve. Thanks, Marcia!
I would have to agree with this policy as well. As a student you should look at college like a job. You are required to be there on time, and if you are going to be late or need to miss the class you need to contact the instructor. It is about being responsible.
Hi Marcia,
Well done in terms of your policy for handling attendance and class participation. Each instructor has to find the policy that works for the setting in which they teach. You have one that works very well for you and your students.
Gary
This is a great policy. My school encourages it and I use it. I have the students turn in their homework at the beginning of class and don't accept it after I request it. I also encourage staying for the entire class by giving a quiz at the end of class. I do not have problems with attendance.
Hi Franz,
You hit on one of my "hot buttons". Students have to learn how to be on time if they are going to be successful in their careers. I have an agreement with the airlines that if I'm not there they can go ahead and leave because they have to consider all of the other travelers and not just my schedule. This is how I explain it to my students. My agreement with them is that I start the class on time and they will be there or the class goes on without them. There will be consequences if they are late. When they are in the work world as we know the consequences are they don't have to come to work because they don't work there if they continue the practice of being late.
Gary
I do this as well. I also emphasize to my students that punctuality in the key to success because it shows self-discipline and is a good way to establish personal respect between the instructor/student or later on, employer/employee.
